Daily Update On Current Affairs – July 19,2017

NDA’s Vice Presidential candidate M Venkaiah Naidu and Opposition’s candidate Gopal Krishna Gandhi today filed their nomination papers in the Parliament House. Mr Naidu filed his nomination in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP President Amit Shah and senior party leaders LK Advani and Sushma Swaraj. Talking to media, Mr Naidu expressed confidence that he will be able to do justice to the August post. Opposition’s candidate Gopal Krishna Gandhi filed his nomination in the presence of Congress President Sonia Gandhi, party Vice President Rahul Gandhi and other senior leaders. Mr Gandhi said, he is representing the aspirations of common people of the country.

Around 1.5 lakh gram panchayats will be connected via optical fibre under the national optical fibre network programme of the Centre by mid-2018, the Union Minister for Electronics & IT and Law & Justice, Ravi Shankar Prasad, said on the 18th July 2017. Of the targeted 2.5 lakh gram panchayats are to be connected under this programme, now called ‘BharatNet’, around one lakh has already been connected. Speaking at an interaction organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the Union Minister said: “One lakh gram panchayats have already been connected and by mid-2018, the remaining will also be connected.”

The US to provide 15,000 additional visas for temporary seasonal workers due to shortage of labour

The US government has cleared the way for thousands of foreign workers to enter the country under temporary seasonal visas. The Department of Homeland Security said in a statement that the government will allow 15,000 additional visas for temporary seasonal workers to help American businesses in danger because of a shortage of labour. Federal officials said, there are not enough qualified and willing American workers available to perform certain types of temporary nonagricultural work. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation to kick off the Made in America week and urged the public to pay respect to those Americans who work to make the country great.

Britain’s first woman Sikh MP Preet Kaur Gill was elected to Home Affairs Select Committee in the UK Parliament. She will be one of the 11 MPs on the cross-party home affairs committee. The Home Affairs Select Committee is an influential cross-party panel in the UK Parliament that examines the workings of the Home Office. It investigates the spending, policy and administration of the ministerial department.

SBI launches ‘SBI Realty’ portal for home buyers

India’s largest commercial bank State Bank of India (SBI) launched SBI Realty, a dedicated portal that will help home buyers to choose flats from its 3,000 approved projects across the country. SBI Realty will be a one stop integrated website for home buyers. It will help customers to choose their dream home from 3,000 SBI approved projects, which are spread across 13 states/UTs covering 30 cities.

Tata Motors unveils India’s first Bio-CNG bus

India’s largest Commercial Vehicles manufacturer Tata Motors has unveiled country’s first Bio-CNG (bio-methane) bus. The bus was rolled out at the Urja Utsav, bio-energy programme, organised by the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. In the Urja Utsav, Tata Motors showcased it’s designed and developed bio-methane engines (5.7 SGI & 3.8 SGI) for LCV, ICV & MCV buses. It also displayed three engines, along with the lead model viz. Tata LPO 1613 with 5.7 SGI NA BS-IV IOBD-II compliant bus. The first of its kind bio-methane bus will provide an alternate fuel technology to cater the need for a greener country. Its use will also contribute in a positive manner to the Smart Cities Mission. It will also serve as a good option for wet garbage disposal

Reliance Industries market capitalisation hits Rs 5 lakh crore mark

Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) for the first time in its trading history has crossed Rs 5 lakh crore in market capitalisation. The market cap of RIL stood at Rs 5, 04, 458.09 on BSE (Bombay Stock Exchange. RIL is the second firm to cross Rs 5 lakh crore in market capitalisation. It is also RIL’s highest market cap in its lifetime and also currently it is the most valued company on the bourses. Tata Consultancy Service (TCS) was the first company to hit Rs 5 lakh crore in market capitalisation milestone in July 2014. Later in November 2014, its market capitalisation had surged to 5.43 lakh crore. Now, it is the second most valuable company in terms of market capitalisation.

Govt move to create big banks through mergers risky, says union

The government’s bid to consolidate public sector banks (PSBs) through mergers to create big banks is fraught with risks as many big private banks globally, including in the US, have failed, cautioned a trade union body. Referring to the experience of the failure of big banks worldwide, All India Bank Employees’ Association General Secretary CH Venkatachalam said: “The myth that big banks are automatically strong banks has since been broken by such huge bank failures. But unfortunately, the government is pursuing this fatal policy, risking the hard-earned savings of the common people. “Big banks would mean taking bigger risks which our country can hardly afford. Hence, we must oppose these pursuits of mergers and amalgamation of banks.” He alleged that the government is also weakening PSBs by allowing private corporates and business houses to start their own banks, and licences being given to open payments banks and small (finance) banks.

Scientists develop 3D-printed soft silicone heart

Scientists from ETH Zurich in Switzerland have developed a 3D-printed soft silicone heart that closely resembles and functions like the human organ. It is not the exact biological replica of the actual but can help to save lives of people who suffer from cardiac failure. It can be also used as an artificial heart in cases when a patient is awaiting a heart transplant.

BCCI appoints Bharat Arun as the Indian Cricket team’s bowling coach

Board of Control for Cricket in India, BCCI has appointed Bharat Arun as the Indian Cricket team’s bowling coach. Addressing a press conference in Mumbai today, BCCI’s acting Secretary Amitabh Chaudhary announced that the cricket body has also decided to retain Sanjay Bangar as the assistant coach and R Sridhar as fielding coach till the 2019 ODI World Cup.